Janet Jackson chose a plunging black lace gown for a red carpet return with a personal purpose: celebrating Missy Elliott. The singer, 60, joined her longtime friend at Dancers Against Cancer’s Gala of the Stars.
The October 22 ceremony at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills put Jackson in the presenter’s role. She gave Elliott the Icon Award, the same honor Jackson received from Liza Minnelli at the previous year’s gala.
Christian Siriano designed Jackson’s dress and shared his enthusiasm on social media. “When JANET calls you make her a fabulous lace gown duh!!” he wrote, according to Atlanta Black Star.
Jackson had performed an hour-long set at Singapore’s Grand Prix on October 11, her first concert there since 2011, The Straits Times reported.
Black Lace and a Plunging Keyhole Define Jackson’s Gown
The dress combined fitted long sleeves and raised, structured shoulders with a high neckline interrupted by a narrow, deep keyhole opening. A black waistband defined the silhouette, while the skirt swept to the floor and concealed her shoes.
The lace lay over nude-toned lining, creating the illusion of exposed skin beneath its intricate pattern, as InStyle noted. Jackson finished the outfit with large gold-toned earrings, statement rings and a metallic gold manicure. Her highlighted, shoulder-length hair was swept back in loose waves, paired with dark eyeliner and glossy brown-red lipstick.
Siriano has dressed Jackson for another evening honoring close collaborators. In 2022, he recreated her Control album-cover outfit for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Allure documented that tribute, which paired a structured black suit with a towering hairstyle recalling the 1986 cover.
Missy Elliott Shares a Personal Thank-You to Jackson
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Onstage, Jackson praised Elliott’s influence on the people who bring music to life through movement. “Missy Elliott helped make dancers impossible to ignore,” she said, according to Forbes. Her tribute also credited Elliott with encouraging individuality and expanding what choreography could accomplish in popular culture.
Elliott used her acceptance speech to address the dancers in the room. “Dancers are not just props on a stage behind artists,” she said, emphasizing the emotion, skill and discipline they bring to a performance.
Her October 23 Instagram post offered a more personal message for Jackson. Elliott wrote that their friendship had lasted more than two decades and praised Jackson’s humility and selflessness. “it’s the best feeling getting a ICON award from a ICON!” she wrote alongside photographs from the evening.
Their shared recording history stretches back well before their most recent collaboration. Elliott appeared on remixes of Jackson’s 2001 single “Son of a Gun,” then joined her on “BURNITUP!” from the 2015 album Unbreakable.
The Benefit Raised More Than $760,000 for Dancers Against Cancer
The evening, hosted by Maks Chmerkovskiy, also recognized several other figures in dance and entertainment. Toni Basil received the Lifetime Achievement Award, Vincent Paterson received the Vanguard Award, and Hilaria Baldwin was named Philanthropist of the Year, according to the gala’s official website. Chita Rivera was honored posthumously with the Paula Abdul Legacy Award.
Live entertainment included a dance tribute to Elliott by Anthony Kanec and a performance of “Straight Up” by Chloé Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies. The program also incorporated live and silent auctions to raise money for the nonprofit.
Dancers Against Cancer provides financial assistance to members of the dance community affected by cancer. Its eligibility guidelines cover dance students, teachers, choreographers and company dancers, along with parents and siblings of enrolled students. Applicants undergo a verification process, which the organization says typically takes two to four weeks, before assistance is approved. Forbes reported that this year’s event raised more than $760,000.